Government health bosses visit Worcestershire

SOME of the country’s top health bosses visited Worcestershire this week to hear how different elements of the health and social care sector are being brought together in a pioneering new programme.

Members of the House of Commons Health Select Committee met with representatives from a number of health bodies in the county on Monday, July 14 to hear about the Well Connected scheme.

The project is one of 14 across the country piloting ways of bringing the NHS, county council, patient groups and other bodies together.

The committee’s chairman, Totnes MP Dr Sarah Woolsten described it as “a very positive visit” and singled out the Timberdine Nursing and Rehabilitation Unit in Timberdine Close for praise.

“This system helps to cut back on unnecessary admissions to hospitals as social care combined with palliative care can help keep people out of hospital,” she said.

“There is evidence from my visit of good practise and this is something we would like to roll out across the whole of the country."

Accountable officer for South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and deputy chairman of the county’s Health and Well-being Board Dr Carl Ellson said it was hoped more patients could be cared for in their own homes.

“By providing earlier help in the community it helps people to recover quickly from an illness and prevents them needing unplanned hospital care or losing their independence and needing long term care,” he said.

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Worcestershire County Council leader Cllr Adrian Hardman said he was “delighted” to welcome the committee members.

For more information on the Well Connected programme visit www.hacw.nhs.uk/well-connected.

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